W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless has undergone a successful surgery to treat two herniated discs and a broken vertebra
On Thursday (August 10), Blackie Lawless released the following statement via social media: “I just got out my back surgery earlier today and all is good, the surgery was a big success! The Dr. said he was very pleased and the results were great. Now to get some rest. Thank you to everyone for all the support.”
Due to significant back injuries sustained by Blackie during the European segment of W.A.S.P.‘s 40th-anniversary tour, the band has regretfully decided to cancel their scheduled 2023 U.S. tour. The tour will be postponed and is now set to take place in the spring of 2024. For those who have purchased tickets and VIP packages, refunds will be available at the original point of purchase.
When the U.S. tour cancelation was announced last month, Lawless said in a statement: “The extent of the trauma I endured on the 2023 European tour was far greater than originally diagnosed and surgery will now be needed to correct the problem. In addition to the original herniated disc, as that tour continued, a second disc became herniated. Upon returning home, a second MRI also revealed a broken vertebrae to my lower back.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with the best specialists in the U.S. and I’ve been in intensive rehab since we got home. It’s going well but the damage was pretty extensive and all the doctors agree moving the tour a few months back will be the safest thing. It’s all been as the result of an injury that happened several years ago. I’m working my butt off to get ready and I’ll be up riding on [my mic stand nicknamed] Elvis… bigger and badder than ever. If the Torture Never Stops, then the 40th Never Stops!”
Concluding its extensive European leg, W.A.S.P.‘s monumental 40th-anniversary world tour culminated on May 18th at the Universidada Sports Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Under the aegis of Live Nation, the North American segment of W.A.S.P.‘s “The 40th Never Stops World Tour 2023” was primed to initiate on August 4th at the Fremont Theatre in San Luis Obispo, California. This tour traversed the breadth of North America, encompassing cities such as Vancouver, British Columbia; Omaha, Nebraska; New York City; Memphis, Tennessee; and more, culminating on September 16th at the illustrious Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. The esteemed ARMORED SAINT was set to join the ensemble as special guests, slated to accompany the band on all 33 tour dates.
W.A.S.P. wrapped up its inaugural U.S. tour in a decade with a resounding sold-out performance on December 11, 2022, at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. This pivotal event marked the 18th instance of a sold-out show during the U.S. tour, which was inaugurated in late October 2022. Remarkably, W.A.S.P.‘s live repertoire featured the revival of the iconic track “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast),” a song that had been dormant in their live performances for over 15 years.
Since its inception, Lawless has been at the helm of W.A.S.P. as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter. His distinctive fusion of visual artistry, societal insights, and political discourse propelled the group to global prominence, resulting in millions of records sold and an enduring legacy of sold-out performances spanning four decades. Accompanying Lawless are bassist Mike Duda and guitarist Doug Blair, who boast tenures of 28 and 17 years respectively, alongside the virtuoso drummer Aquiles Priester.
In the realm of discography, W.A.S.P.‘s most recent offering was “ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol),” unleashed in February 2018. A reimagining of the classic 1992 album “The Crimson Idol,” this re-recorded edition was crafted in tandem with the eponymous movie, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the original LP’s release. Distinguished by the inclusion of four previously absent tracks, this rendition marked a captivating milestone in the band’s storied journey.